Three-year-old Anastasia Miller wandered into the woods and never returned home. Something came back — something that looked like Anastasia, talked like Anastasia, but insisted she was an alien, a scout left behind by her people, waiting for the day they’d return. Like a cuckoo chick in a human nest, she grew up with Earth’s cultural literacy but knowing she belonged somewhere else.

Now, years later, a signal from the stars confirms her story. The armada is coming. But it’s not a joyous reunion — it’s an invasion. And as humanity scrambles to respond, Stasia and a mismatched group of allies must decide what to do when the future you’ve been waiting for turns out to be a threat to everything you've learned to love.

Despite the knowledge at the outset that an alien invasion is impending, this is a slower, more introspective story rather than a high-octane thriller or horror story. There are interesting ideas at play in the book. Stasia’s perspective as someone caught between two worlds — biologically alien, emotionally tied to Earth — is compelling, and the glimpses we get of the alien species, especially the psychic bond between the scouts and the lush design of the vessel, are fresh and evocative. But ultimately, the execution didn’t quite land (ha ha) for me.

The pacing is a big part of that. I had access to both the audiobook and eBook through my review copy, and at one point, I realized the audiobook was missing a significant chunk of chapters — and I hadn’t noticed. I feel like that's the best way I can convey how uneven the structure and momentum felt. The early promise of an alien arrival kept getting delayed by scenes that didn’t add much urgency or emotional weight, and much of the final act relies on lengthy conversations rather than truly gripping confrontation.

Tone-wise, Overgrowth is earnest and readable, but it didn’t feel especially distinctive in a crowded sci-fi field. For me, this was a solid concept with uneven execution — a read that I wanted to like more than I actually did. Plenty of other readers seem to enjoy this one, though, so maybe my complaints about the pacing are a matter of personal preference.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Audio: the audio is fitting, feels like it represents the character well, and brings the story to life.

Review: I really enjoyed this book. I didn't think I was going to because sci-fi is very hit or miss for me. However, I really, really enjoyed this book. I've wanted to try Mira Grant for a long time and this definitely makes me want to read other works by her. The plot is straight forward, engaging, and exactly what the synopsis says it's going to be. The book is consistent the entire way through, pacing is perfect. I also really enjoyed the characters and their stories. The diverse representation was much appreciated, as a trans guy myself, we don't get a lot of stories about transmen and ciswomen together. Overgrowth has a lot to say, so much you should read it yourself, I can't really do it justice in my review. There's a lot of social commentary but Grant does it in a way that weaves it throughout the story and will feel relatable for most of us. Really glad I read this. The MC is endearing and one I will continue to think about. I could see myself reading this again in the future.

The stunning cover and fantastic concept caught me. I expected science fiction horror with the tight, suspenseful writing that captivated me in the two Rolling in the the Deep books. This novel has an interesting vision and some magical moments, yet I struggled to engage with it. I think I'm simply not part of the target  audience.

An early, grisly scene that may be disturbing for some readers felt like the beginning of a horrific experience. instead, most of the book had a very young tone, a slow pace, and an emphasis on found family. For me, there was too much spoon-feeding and repetition of explanations. I prefer to feel immersed and discover what's going on via action and dialogue.

I liked the creepy plant moments and interractions with aliens. I wish there'd been more of that.

I strongly recommend the audiobook. The vocal performance helps to add interest and the narrator speaks clearly. The production values are excellent.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These opinions are solely my own.

This is pretty long, but it's Mira Grant, so I stopped what I was supposed to be doing so I could read this first. Mira Grant has such a wild imagination and all her books are so different -- I've been reading her since Feed, her zombie series, and there are so many other worlds she has created. This story is darkly hilarious -- the real Anastasia Miller was murdered when she was three and replaced by an alien, and she has spent her whole life telling everyone that she is an alien and her people are on their way.
Even her friends don't believe her, which makes sense -- even though she's an odd person, she still has a normal life with a job and a boyfriend and friends. When the aliens finally do arrive, the pace picks up, and there are so many questions about what makes us human and how we are tied to each other. Thanks to NetGalley, I got to listen to the audiobook, which is excellent, and the voice was perfect for Anastasia.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Tor Nightfire for an advanced copy of this audiobook in an exchange for an honest review.

I think if you’re a fan of Mira Grant’s writing style you will love this book.

I really enjoyed how unique and diverse our main cast was, however since I just recently read her Newsflesh series the parallels kind of stood out starkly to me. Yes, there were enough differences that I really can’t complain but it did have me side eyeing the book.

Speaking of a side-eye I actually listened to the audiobook and Caitlin Kelly did a phenomenal job and I’m looking forward to listening to other audiobooks narrated by her.

My final thoughts can be wrapped up as so; this did not feel like a horror to me and considering I’m actively reading the Southern Reach trilogy the comparison to Annihilation was sooo far off-kilter. (The above statement did not affect my rating as I’m assuming they aren’t the authors choice)

I don't think I've ever had a book that made me think so deeply about who's side I was on or how I felt about the things happening. This book when thought about on the full level could cause such a deep debate with a persons self. It makes you see the lack of humanity some people would have because your getting the story from the "bad guys" point of view, but in the next minute you are faced with the nature of what that "bad guy" could potentially do and how bad it could be. The only Character I can say I never flipped flopped my feelings for was Tony, cause she stayed aggressive the whole time. But all the other characters you start to understand and sympathize with and the next moment you are angry for them or at them. I enjoyed the entire experience and the thought debates this book presented. I also enjoyed how the narrator fully expressed the feeling the FMC had in each scenario. I would recommend this book to any of my friends who enjoyed analyzing stories or having deep discussion of meanings and action, because i don't think any person could not sympathize with each character in their own unique situation but also hate the outcomes they each face.

I previously enjoyed Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant and was excited to see she had another book out. This time about killer aliens. This was a creepy science fiction horror book about an alien invasion. We follow Anastasia who was a converted alien at three years old. She lives her whole life telling everyone she is an alien and that her species will be coming soon to take over the planet. No one believes her until the aliens come to take over the planet.

I liked the vast array of characters in this book. We had trans representation and Mexican American representation. I liked Anastasia as a character, but I would have liked her to kick some butt in this story, she was rather bland. I wanted to see more of an attack, we have a brief encounter at the end, but I would have liked a bit more excitement throughout the story. It was a lot of talking between characters. More action, less talking.

I liked this book and will continue reading books by Mira Grant. She puts a new spin on sci fi horror and it's always a fun read.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

If you want weird girl scifi fiction then this is for you. Not my genre but it was well written. I got confused a little but that’s a me problem.

I'm not sure how to rate Overgrowth to be honest. It's definitely creepy with it's vivid descriptions and body horror, but the pacing of this was abysmal. I feel like this would have benefitted from being shorter and not so drawn out.

What would happen if pod people/body snatchers were crossbred with Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors? Well, you don't have to wonder anymore because Mira Grant has got you covered. She's constructed the novel Overgrowth.

As a little girl. Anastasia was devoured and cloned by an alien flower. That's how this story starts, so that's fun. Her pod person is a perfect double, except she tells everyone that she is a scout for an alien armada.
As Stasia grows up and integrates into her Earth life, she forms bonds but never stops announcing her alien identity. This is written off as an eccentricity until an alien signal is received, proving extraterrestrial intelligence. And possibly proving Stasia isn't crazy.

Overgrowth is a story dealing with identity, family (birth and found), and what it means to trust in yourself. The obvious nods to classic sci-fi and horror works were very appreciated by this reader. Definitely H.G. Wells, probably Ray Bradbury, big shout-outs to Little Shop of Horrors and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Maybe a little Borg and Na'vi? Mira Grant expands on and updates these sci-fi and horror ideas for a new generation of readers. Adding more levity and heart, allowing us to sympathize with the "alien threat".
Caitlin Kelly wdid a great job narrating. First and Second were my favorite voices.

What happens when your alien sleeper agent is assimilated into their human life? A life with a job, friends, family and a pet cat? Who will they choose to stand beside? Will they betray their humanity for the flowers?

A charming and yet horrifying exploration of humanity, colonization, and what it takes to be family.

Disclaimer: I read this as a tandem read with a physical ARC as well as an audiobook ARC from NetGalley and Tornightfire. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The audiobook was done very well. (See audiobook stats below for more details). I feel like the audiobook narrator did a great job, being very clear and concise with her narration, as well as holding the same speed in tempo throughout the text. I never had to adjust my speed or change any settings for the audiobook. It all played out really well from beginning to end. I felt like the narrator gave great characterization to everybody involved and did a great job differentiating each character with her voice.

This book did an excellent job of making you care about all of the characters while subtly building this creeping feeling of dread and claustrophobia as the invasion closes in on you. It was almost charming in the way the characters were portrayed. It felt so much like a cozy found family type situation, with the undercurrent of a hostile alien invasion that was going to wipe out humanity at any moment. It was very easy to root for the characters in general, even the ones you necessarily shouldn't be rooting for. I enjoyed the conflicted feelings I had for the characters, because I knew I shouldn't be caring for them and yet I ultimately did.

There was great diversity within the characters that were represented. There was representation in the way of a Mexican American character, where her language and culture was mentioned several times throughout the text. As well as a very prominent trans main character that was discussed quite regularly and was very normalized. I enjoyed that quite a bit. We also had a brief mention of Asian American characters as well. I really enjoyed that the characters were not just present within the text, but also it spoke of their background and/or trials and tribulations several times throughout the book as well which solidified that the author was really making an attempt to represent by public communities and not just checking off for some sort of "diversity checkbox".

I really enjoyed the way humanity was really explored throughout the text. What makes us human and ties us to those around us was a big theme in this book. I felt like it covered multiple facets of this theme and it was very interesting to read. Watching our main character Anastasia grapple with what made her human versus what made her "other" was at times stressful but always interesting and poignant. Relating humanity to family that you have created also was extremely interesting to read about. Blood is not always what makes us family.

I felt the overall premise of this book was extremely interesting. I've never read anything like it, and I found it to be an extremely easy book to hold my attention. I did get a little bogged down during info dumps. Some conversations I felt got a little too heavy on the "tell" and not the "show". But overall, the entire book really captured my attention and my imagination. The imagery within this novel was so amazingly done. I definitely could picture of these plant human hybrids at work consistently being revealed throughout the novel. I felt the way that the aliens were portrayed was also very unique and different from other popular portrayals throughout media.

Overall, I think this is gonna be an absolutely wonderful sci-fi release for this year. It's definitely gonna be one. I'll think about for a long time.

Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 8 hours 18 minutes
🎤: Frankie Corzo, Cynthia Farrell
Genre: Sci-fi Horror
Gore: 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♂️
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Audio/ Tornightfire
Themes: humanity, colonization, found family
Representation: Mexican American characters, Trans characters

As a big fan of Into the Drowning Deep, I was really excited to receive this ALC! I enjoyed the beginning but felt it start to lag a bit in the middle and then we got some pay off at the end. I did overall like this but I didn’t love it.

Thank you NetGalley, for an early release audiobook of Overgrowth. 3.5/5 stars

I start off my review by stating my attraction to Mira Gant's writing. Grant is wonderfully intelligent human with a heavy science background and it shines beautifully in her work. The thing for me in horror is it has to be believable to be effective and she accomplishes this. There is a logical cause for a creature or situation to be able to exist using scientific application. She can create entire perfect scenarios that make the nerdiest of us scream internally. There is great care to detail that enforces the logic which increases the horror factor! Her world building pays off as does the build in tension.

Overgrowth has the elements I listed above, with a huge emphasis on the human condition and the emotions we go through during dire circumstances. Right away Grant takes a huge risk in the trigger warning department. This really sets the tone for the reader that there are going to be uncomfortable situations and the characters are going to be on a rollercoaster of all the feels. Anastasia is the main character in the story with clearly defined flaws and insecurities that Grant explores. The supporting characters all give the reader interactions for different reaction types and scenarios that could occur during an invasion. On a specific level, this is insightful. We look at race, class, segregated individuals, lgbtqia, and more. Grahm is my favorite character, not because of the reveal, but because of how he approaches things. What a well rounded person! Forgiving and very logical.
The horror aspect in the book is noteworthy. Beautiful yet terrifying. Transformations and experiences are described. This aspect dealt with a lot of human emotion also in a bit of detail.

Overall, the story was interesting, the science was mostly there and the message was loud and clear. I like that there was a strong message and it could reach this genera and the choice of invasion and how it unfolded was mostly succinct, but some parts did feel untidy. The last 20ish percent of the book really started looking into the sci-fi aspect and it really had me hooked, but the nasa lab and the transition from a certain place back to earth was choppy in my opinion. It's like looking at really beautiful art, but at a certain angle and not straight on, if that makes sense. I will continue to read Grant and her other pen Seanan McGuire, because she is scary smart and an amazing author.

Marked as spoilers on good reads
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian audio for an early copy of this audio book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It’s really hard to put a star rating on this because unfortunately it didn’t come across as advertised. I read Into the Drowning Deep and expected it to be much more like that. It read much more YA and horror-lite than what I expected. It also seemed to be more about the issues discussed than idk the freaking plant aliens??? The reward was the friends we made along the way?

The focus on this story is the narrator who is killed by aliens as a child and taken over by an alien plant species for an eventual take over of earth. She is not given any information about the “mission” and just goes on living as a human all the while telling everyone who will listen that she is an alien. No one thinks this as actually as strange as they should. She is diagnosed and schizophrenic and that’s that.

The narrator struggles with an identity crisis. After telling everyone she’s an alien and being pissy they don’t believe her, she gets the opportunity to prove to them she is right. And immediately wonders if she’s more human now than alien? And after living on human food for literally 30 years all of a sudden she’s desperate for human blood?

One line in particular really took me out of the story. The narrator makes a comment about her trans boyfriend stating she can’t believe he doesn’t really think she is an alien when she believes he is a man. I said wtf out loud. Why was this included?

I think this would have made a fantastic novella. The premise was intriguing and it would have been super easy to include the “full on body horror” that was advertised. This was barely horror and needed to pick a lane.

The fourth wall breaks were really inorganic too. This is not a Deadpool movie.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrator and think she did a great job with the creepy atmosphere.

Overgrowth is a good entry level sci-fi. It's Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Little Shop of Horrors vibes.

From the beginning, Anastasia is known to be an alien. She narrates how she got here and compulsively tells everyone she meets that she is an alien. She has done this since she took over the body of a three year old 30+ years ago. Things get real for the few people in her life who don't think she's crazy, when an alien signal is recorded and released to the media. She has to grapple with what it means to no longer have any doubt of what she is and where her loyalties lie between her alien kind, and the humans that are all she's ever known.

There were some pacing issues, but overall, I enjoyed the ride. There is a sprinkling of body horror, but I don't know if I would categorize the story as horror. This is a solid pick for anyone looking to try sci-fi that isn't overly complicated.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Caitlin Kelly. She did a good job portraying the naivety of Stasia. I felt like I was actually listening to her inner monologue, instead of a book being read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for an early audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow...this book was out of this world. Pun intended. I really loved the connections the author made using current societal narratives between illegal aliens and extraterrestrial alien life. The focus on trans humans and their struggles was also amazingly done. Love wins.

"True" Rating: 4.5 of 5

Anastasia's never doubted she is what she is always declare herself to be- an alien vanguard for the coming invasion. It's just that after a time it became something she wasn't sure was even relevant. I mean, if most people laugh you off, family and teachers try to 'fix' you, your mother believes you but in that she sees you as a murder of her baby, and you don't actually know anything else about yourself, what can someone do but keep on keepin' on? She settled into a life in which she tolerated the exhausting energy of people and the inevitable rejections and occasional harassment. It wasn't like she hadn't found at least a few who took her declaration as a personality trait and welcomed her all the same. Except then her family, her real family, comes knocking to retrieve their little blossom.

“Overgrowth” mixes up the seemingly, regrettably, timeless elements and well known themes of classic invasion tales. She lays that side out on display so that she can spend her energy developing the underlying factors that are unique to her tale below. The result is an adventure that excites and haunts in the same ways Rod Sterling era “The Twilight Zone” productions did. It's a combination of everyday horror, psychology, and commentary on social and governmental politics past and present.

There was never any doubt that Mira Grant would be able to bring a unique alien creation to life. Working in fantastical genres under another name she's proven the ability frequently. Indeed her otherworldly invaders deliver. Not constrained to only a peek at her creations by page count or format, we're treated with a showcase of culture, motivations, logic, vast variations, and layman biological processes.

What hooked into me was how she walked the tightrope between metaphor and direct commentary. “Overgrowth” examines the collective drain of empathy, broken systems, the ways people are 'othered', and brushes on context and behavioral repetition in history. Never fear. It's not just a piece to vent about all the ills of human nature and our current global and political system. There are glimmers of those who fight back to not perpetuate negativity. Those same people aren't always perfect. Even those in our support systems have their own life experiences that could emerge from our subconscious under dire circumstances. Grant digs into the nuances and murky waters of where human instinct and conditioning form all of us.

At the heart of this book is Stashia's allied group. Allies, not friends entire, as there are some prickly realistic group dynamics common to the every day let alone when the world is ending and you're on the run. Each character's strong individual nature also work as tools to create tension through motivations instead of simple emotion. Interpersonal interactions also contribute to the singular frustration with the reading experience.

If I can say anything negative it is that there were some repetitious thoughts and conversations that added maybe a few too many pages. I understand people with life long trauma in one way or another need reaffirmation and reassurance as they also frequently walk and and hand with being doubtful and self critical. But Stashia's reflections of her relationships flare up maybe more than necessary to advance the story or character growth. At the same time, a concept so detailed would still require time to develop.

“Overgrowth” was everything I wanted from it and more than I anticipated in many ways. The cherry on top is a smirk and slow clap reveal ending that reveals the context of one aspect's inclusion. I must also give a shout out to Caitlin Kelly for a great narration job. Once again, Grant proves why she's one of my favorite working authors.

Oh boy, that ending got me! Overgrowth is a cross between "Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Day of the Triffids by way of Arrival." Our FMC has been telling everyone the truth since she was three years old that she is an alien sent ahead of an invasion. Present day, there is an alien signal being broadcast around the world, humanity is finally starting to realize that it's already been warned, and it may be too late. I categorize this story as a sci-fi horror. We also have an LGBTQ+ love interest. Overgrowth was slow to medium paced, and the majority of this was to offer LOTS of character development for all the characters. How do you come to terms with a future you didn't ask for under circumstances you couldn't control? It gives the story a healthy mix of both plot and character development. I enjoyed the book and was engaged the whole time.

The story itself is chilling and full of suspence. The audiobook simply enhances the experience and pulls you into the world. The production team outdid themselves. The narration gave me the damn chills. This is an audiobook which you don't wanna miss.

I quite liked this first contact / aliens among us Sci-Fi novel. A three-year-old wanders into the woods, enticed by the smell of candy. Three days later, she appears to return home unharmed, except she insists she is an alien. While that premise sounds funny, the novel has heart, as this ostracized and now grown young woman has found her tribe, including her cosplay-enjoying roommate, her trans boyfriend, and her “asshole cat.”
But the aliens ARE coming. Her aliens. What they do may be the answer that saves humanity.
The audiobook narration is excellent and the how the story plays out is fresh and engaging.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #Overgrowth for review purposes.